Maritime pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, and oceans. The effects of these substances on animals, and fish as well as other marine life can be very devastating. Also, they can harm human health by consuming contaminated seafood and obstructing maritime activities including fishing, tourism, recreational activities, and maritime transportation. More than 71% of the earth's surface is made up of oceans, which are also home to a wide range of marine species. However, it is becoming more obvious the effects that marine pollution has on the environment, including climate change.
One of the main causes of marine pollution is plastic waste. Throughout the hundreds of years, it may take for plastic garbage to break down they release greenhouse gases in the process due to sun and heat. These gases will harm marine life, interfere with their habitat and also impact climate change. As we know the ocean plays an important role in regulating the Earth's climate by absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. With the release of these gases from the breakdown of plastic waste into the ocean, organisms are not able to absorb carbon dioxide to regulate the Earth's temperature and release oxygen. This impact causes heat waves, floods, droughts, wildfires, melting glaciers, and even affects water quality and food availability.
In order to reduce the effects of marine pollution on climate change, Jamaica has partnered with the Paris Agreement. Jamaica's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement foresees to reduce of gas emissions between 25.4% and 28.5%. Jamaica has taken several steps to reduce its carbon footprint and aims to adopt strategies to reduce this.
Additionally for Jamaica to have a strong sustainable future and maintain its resources we are able to adopt the Systems Thinking Approach. Some steps to take using this approach is: to identify the root causes such as oil spills, garbage, or other human activities, develop a systems approach that can be used to take the issues of marine pollution, develop partnerships and collaboration with local companies including Minott Chemicals, Icon Importers and Distributors Limited, Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners, Guardsman Group Limited and the Ocean Conservancy as well as the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET). Lastly, the systems thinking approach must also be monitored and evaluated to see how effective this approach is and to see where there is any improvement to the approach to reduce marine pollution.
Marine pollution continues to impact climate change and will have catastrophic consequences for the planet if left unaddressed.
Question: How do you believe you can aid in the reduction of the impact of Marime Pollution on Climate Change? You can leave a comment by clicking below.
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